Bag for bowling balls



Jall- 1952 1.. A. ROBINSON 2,580,958

BAG FOR BOWLING BALLS Filed Feb. 5, 1948 INVENTOR. LLOYD A. ROB! NSON.

JTTRAEYS.

Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to bags and more particularly to bags adapted for transportation and enclosure of heavy articles such as bowling balls and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, the bag to which this invention relates is particularly adapted for carrying bowling balls and associated equipment. Due to the comparatively great weight of a bowling ball, it is desirable that the bag be of light construction. Difliculty has been experienced however, in that the weight of the ball tends to split and tear the flexible lightweight material employed for the bag, and, furthermore, the point of attachment of the handles to the bag material has represented a zone of localized stress so that the handles tended to tear loose from the bag.

A principal object of the present invention resides in eliminating any tendency of the weight of ball or other article covered by the bag to tear and split the bag, and to eliminate tendency of the weight of the ball to separate or tear the covering material of the bag from the handles at their point of connection.

Briefly, this object is accomplished by forming the bag with a false bottom within which a rigid floating platform is suspended by means of suspension straps extending along the inner sides of the material of the bag. With this construction, external means are provided for attachment to the handles and the internal suspension means. so that the bag, the suspension straps, and the external handle attaching means are all fastened together. Thus, the bag need only support its own weight, the weight of the articles within the bag being taken by the floating platform and its suspending straps. I

A preferred embodiment of this invention, namely a bag that will not tear or come apart under severe usage, even though it is made of lightweight material, will be understood from the following description of a bag adapted for use with bowling balls and the like.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bag with section of side wall broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the bag;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged portion of the bag showing the handle attaching means;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section to the handle attaching means; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ball supporting platform and its supporting straps.

Referring to the drawings, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the bag B includes an outer flexible bag or cover having side walls It] and walls I I, a false bottom I 4 and a top section I3. The false bottom it is preferably square in the embodiment illustrated and is attached to the bag material by rivets [5 which serve as feet for the bag. The upper portion of the bag is split and closed by a zipper or other fastening means It, and the upper portion of the bag may be shaped to receive bowling shoes and the like.

Enclosed by the flexible bag material is an article carrying assembly comprising a rigid platform to be made up of plywood or any other suitable material and, if the bag is to be 7 adapted for use with the bowling ball, a rubber ring 2| may be fastened to the platform 20 to center the ball within the bag. The platform is suspended by suspension means which, in the preferred form, comprise vertically extending straps 22 made up of any light, strong material such as canvas webbing. The lower ends of the straps are secured to the bottom of platform 20 by means of staples 23 or any suitable fastening. Although four straps are illustrated, it is obvious that any lightweight, stron material maybe used for the purpose. The upper portions of straps 22 extend to a zone wherein the handle H g is. attached.

In order that the load on the handle H will be transmitted directly to the suspension means 22, and hence to the platform 20, external handle attaching means 25 are provided. The load carryin portion of the attaching means is shown in the form of a metal loop 38 which is bent to form attaching legs 3! and a loop 32 formed to receive a ring 33. Rings 33 connect to the handle H in the conventional manner.

I prefer that, in the interests of appearance, a false shield member be provided which may include an outer decorative piece of pliable material 21 looped through ring 33 and extending between the sheet metal load supporting loop 35] and the bag material [0. The upper portions of the suspension means 22, the handle attaching loop 30, the tongue 26 of the decorative shield, and the side wall H] of the bag are all attached together by means of a rivet or other fastening means indicated at 29.

It will be noted that with the construction illustrated, the bag need only support its own weight because the Weight of the ball or other article within the bag is transmitted directly from the platform 20 through the suspension straps 22, fastener 29, metal loop 30 to the handle ring 33. Since the false bottom M of the bag is independent of the platform 20 with the parts under load, no strain tendin to split the seams or tear the bag material is present. Likewise there is no tendency for the handle supporting means to tear loose from the bag fabric It, because the load is transmitted directly to straps 22. The weight of the bag material is negligible and will not pull clear at the handle attaching points.

Although I have shown a false bottom l4 spaced from and clear of the ball Supporting platform 20, it would be possible to provide the same mode of operation by attaching a portion of the bottom of the bag to the bottom of the platform 20. In this case, an ample extent of material would be provided between the point of attachment at the rivet 29 and the bottom of the bag. However, I prefer that the platform 20 be completely inde pendent of the bag because this entirely eliminates the possibility of tearing the bag due to shifting of the ball therein and furthermore permits withdrawal of the platform from the bag so that the bottom thereof is accessible in case any of the fastenings 23 between the straps 22 and the platform loosen or break. Likewise, a con; struction wherein the platform is separate and clear of the false bottom !4 is one that is readily adapted to economical assembly,

Althou h my bag is p rticu r use ul for carrying bowling balls, it will be understood that the mode f operati n is in ependen oi he a ticle to he ar ied, t e ssenc of the in enti n being a floating platform suspended by flexible m ans s p nd d wit in a pliable c er- Havin comp eted a de il d e c ion of. h preferred embodiment of my invention I contemp a t at var us m difi atio s hereof l suegest themselves. to those skilled in the art which will n t epresent a. departure fr m t e mode of operation described.

A r in y I ont plat t he app nded claims and not the aforesaid embodiment be determinative of the scope of my invention,

What is claimed is;

A has o p n an encl sure for retainin arti les in th has formed o flexible ma eria flexible suspension s raps isposed within said enclosure, an article supporting platform. supported by said straps and disposed adjacent to but spaced from the bottom of said; enclosure, and handle attachment means external of said enclosure disposed adjacent upper portions of said straps, said enclosure being disposed hetween said straps and handle attachment means and fastened thereto whereby said enclosure is relieved of the weight of an article within the bag and resting on said platform.

2. A bowling bag receptacle comprising a rigid ball supporting platform, strap-like suspension means extending upwardly from said platform, a flexible enclosure for a bowling ball surrounding said platform and suspension means, means for attachment of a handle disposed externally of said enclosure, and means connecting said suspension means, enclosure, and handle attachment means together, said enclosure having a false bottom spaced from and independent of said platform.

3. A bag comprising an enclosure formed of flexible material for retaining articles in the bag, said enclosure having spaced sides, an article supporting platform disposed within said enclosure and adjacent the bottom thereof, flexible tension means connected to said platform and extending upwardly therefrom along the inner sides of said enc o ure to a z n dj c t the t p of sa d o closure, handle mounting means on each side of said enclosure, said mounting means each being connected to the associated side of said enclosure and to an associated upper end portion of said tension means, and handles on said mounting means, whereby said enclosure is relieved of the eight of an article within the bag and resting on said: p a form, s d nc osu e a in a false bottom substantially coextensive with said platform and arranged so that when the bag is suspe ded b i and es e ec Weight of he load is not take by a d als o m.-

L D A- ROB S N- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

